PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
INSIDE 3 Partnership Announced
Mass General Brigham will be the exclusive health care provider for Boston College Athletics.
5 Scholarship Winner
The 2022 Saint Oscar Romero Scholarship goes to Mikayla Sanchez ’23.
8 Arts Festival Time
A look at the annual Boston College Arts Festival (April 28-30).
Springing into Action
APRIL 14, 2022 VOL. 29 NO. 14
Record Year in Undergrad Admission Historic application totals, admit rate result in accomplished, diverse Class of 2026 BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
In a year in which it received a record number of applications for this fall’s firstyear class, Boston College continued to solidify its status as one of the country’s most selective universities. This year, the University received 40,477 applications—the most in its history—for the Class of 2026, and admitted just 16 percent of all applicants. The percentage of admitted students at BC is half of what it was only five years ago, when the admit rate for the Class of 2021 (with 28,454 applications) was 32 percent. Just three years ago, the admit rate for the Class of 2023 was 27 percent with 35,500 applications, a record at that photo by caroline alden
time. This year, admitted students averaged 1510 on the SAT, yet another milestone for BC, and 34 on the ACT. Sixty-seven percent of admitted students submitted standardized test scores with their applications, even as BC, like many elite colleges and universities, made them optional. AHANA students represent 42 percent of admitted students in the Class of 2026, which had applicants from 82 countries. Nine percent are international students, and 11 percent are first-generation students. All 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and three United States territories, are represented in the class. Director of Undergraduate Admission Grant Gosselin said the COVID-19 pandemic has unquestionably affected recruit-
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VP Announces Plans to Enhance Inclusivity at BC BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
The McMullen Museum of Art held a Spring Celebration on April 2, with activities that included artmaking, storytelling, and (above) a very energetic Easter egg hunt.
ment, admission, and enrollment throughout higher education, and the full impact has yet to be fully realized or understood. But the recent trends in selectivity at BC can be partially attributed to the “convergence of two key policy decisions,” he said. “One is the introduction of BC’s Early Decision program, which was implemented three years ago,” explained Gosselin. “With Early Decision, applicants identify themselves as strong candidates for BC’s distinctive education and commit to enrolling, if admitted. We have attracted extraordinary candidates via Early Decision who comprise approximately half of this incoming class. “The other factor was our decision to adopt a test-optional admission plan dur-
In an effort to create a more welcoming and inclusive campus environment, Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper-Gibson will institute a series of enhancements in the coming months that she hopes will make Student Affairs’ centers, offices, and programs more accessible for all students, and improve their experience at Opening Weekend events in August. Among the enhancements, CooperGibson said she plans to shift LGBTQ+ programming from the Office of Student Outreach and Support Services to the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center beginning this summer, to make the BAIC more inclusive for all BC students. “The goal of the Bowman Center is to support underrepresented students and promote diversity and inclusion efforts across campus,” said Cooper-Gibson. “As
we plan for the construction of a new facility on Upper Campus that will bring most of our student engagement groups together, we are looking at ways to most effectively serve our students, while simultaneously creating a sense of belonging for all. Placing LGBTQ+ services under the umbrella of the BAIC makes sense and is consistent with how intercultural centers are structured at many colleges and universities. Student Outreach and Support Services Director Caroline Davis has done an excellent job supporting our LGBTQ+ students. As we look to hire someone in the coming year to expand upon Caroline’s efforts to serve this population, this adjustment will provide an exciting opportunity to collaborate and bring special attention to intersectionality.” Cooper-Gibson said that she also plans to rebrand the BAIC as the Thea Bowman Intercultural Center, in light of feedback from the campus community that the acro-
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These initiatives align with our mission to provide affordable, high-quality educational options for working adults who want to advance their education or enhance or change their careers. – woods college of advancing studies dean karen muncaster, page 6
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April 14, 2022
Around Campus
Student Affairs VP to Get an Up-Close View of the Boston Marathon Boston College faculty, staff, and students have long participated in the Boston Marathon, and this year’s edition is no exception. Among the members of the University community preparing for the 26.2-mile trek on Monday is one of BC’s senior administrators, Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper-Gibson. For Cooper-Gibson, who joined BC last year, competing in the Boston Marathon has long been a goal: It’s the world oldest marathon, she points out, and part of the “World Marathon Majors”—the others are Chicago, New York City, Berlin, Tokyo, and London, all of which she has completed. The fact that the race runs through what is now her workplace only adds to her anticipation. “I am most excited to get to Mile 21 where I will be at home at BC,” she said. “Part of my challenge will be about the timing: I am generally an early morning run-
Shawna Cooper-Gibson photo by lee pellegrini
ner—5-6 a.m. starts—so an 11:15 a.m. ‘wave time’ is a different vibe for me, but I am looking forward to it.”
More importantly, Marathon Monday is “a celebratory time for our community. We have the Undergraduate Government of Boston College leading a cheer section on Commonwealth Avenue and the Christian Life Community hosting a prayer service and blessing over all Boston College marathon runners,” said Cooper-Gibson, noting that Student Affairs is partnering with Athletics and University Mission and Ministry to enhance the Marathon Monday experience on campus [see bc.edu/mile21]. Cooper-Gibson’s interest in marathoning was relatively late blooming, she explained. “I always like to work toward a goal. When I finished my dissertation, I wanted to focus on my physical health. Having been a runner in my younger days, I thought it was an easily accessible sport for me to pick up again. As a former sprinter, the idea of running a 5K seemed like a good start. After complet-
ing races over the course of a year from the initial 5K to a half-marathon, I wanted to try something even more challenging and a marathon was the natural next step.” The physicality involved in running marathons is best complemented by adopting a philosophical view, she said. “Do not let the distance overwhelm you. Like life, the marathon is one step at a time. It is important to note that not every training run or race will go smoothly. It is a journey and the challenges you experience during this time will help you meet the end goal.” Lest there be any doubt, Cooper-Gibson avers that she will “absolutely be decked out in BC gear” if anyone is looking for her at Mile 21. “Is there any other way for me to run the marathon?” —Sean Smith
‘An Important Place in the Intellectual and Social Landscape at BC’ Boston College celebrated a half-century of Black Studies at the University on Saturday with a conference featuring talks by prominent alumni as well as current and former faculty members. Delayed by the pandemic, the 50-year commemoration was the theme for the return of Blacks in Boston, a conference series conceived by Amanda V. Houston— who served as Black Studies Program director from 1981-1993—to explore social, political, economic, and other matters of interest to Boston’s Black communities. Saturday’s event was the first Blacks in Boston conference since 2018. The BC Black Studies Program originated during the 1969-1970 academic year as part of the University’s efforts to recruit talented Black students. The program was a response to Jesuit Superior General Pedro Arrupe’s 1968 “Inter-Racial Apostolate” letter to Jesuit colleges and universities and discussions between then-BC President Michael Walsh, S.J., and Boston community leaders. The program was renamed African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) in 2006 and was introduced as a major in 2019-2020. A panel at the conference, “Remembering Black Studies at Boston College,” included University Trustee Darcel Clark ’83, district attorney for Bronx County, N.Y.; ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn
SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Patricia Delaney EDITOR
Sean Smith
Ufuoma C. Abiola ’06, executive director for diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Columbia Business School; and Juan Concepcion ’96, director and senior legal counsel at Boston Scientific. Associate Professor of the Practice of History Karen Miller served as moderator. AADS Program Director Martin Summers, a professor of history, moderated “Reflecting on Black Studies At and Beyond Boston College,” which included Cynthia Young, who directed the program during its transition from Black Studies to AADS (Young is now a faculty member at Pennsylvania State University). Another former BC faculty member, Régine Jean-Charles—now director of Africana Studies at Northeastern University—gave the keynote address. Late last week, Summers mused on the event’s significance: “We are tremendously excited to be celebrating AADS’s 50th anniversary, although it is two years late because of COVID. The program has occupied an important place in the intellectual and social landscape at Boston College, and especially in the lives of Black students. We are grateful to be joined by Boston College alumni who came through the Black Studies Program in three different decades—the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s—and who will share their
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
experiences and wisdom with our current students.” Summers also noted the unveiling of a “virtual walking tour” of Blacks at BC, which was presented by Associate Professor of English and AADS and former program
University Earns ‘Military Friendly’ Designation Boston College has been designated a 2022-2023 Military Friendly School based on the University’s commitment and programs to support the campus military community of students, staff, and alumni. Among more than 1,800 organizations, including universities and businesses that sought out the recognition, BC received a Silver award for efforts that exceeded the basic standards for recognition. Universities were chosen based on public data and survey responses assessed by Viqtory, a marketing consultancy focused on the military community, and the Military Friendly Advisory Council, which draws from higher education and the recruitment sector. The organization recognizes institutions that strive to help veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, find satisfying careers in the civilian world. “This designation is national recognition for the value we place on military veterans, and the experiences they bring to our community,” said Michael Lorenz, BC’s
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Caitlin Cunningham Lee Pellegrini
director Rhonda Frederick. “We want to use this as an opportunity to both celebrate and soberly reflect on Blacks Studies as an intellectual and institutional project.” —University Communications
assistant director for veteran programs and services. “We continue to try and bring veteran experiences here, both inside and outside the classroom.” BC has 135 student veterans enrolled this semester and an additional 80 veterans among the ranks of faculty and staff, as well as thousands of alumni who served in the military, Lorenz said. The University has also committed to meeting the standards of the Department of Defense program Employer Support of Guard and Reserve. The program promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and assists in resolving conflicts that arise from an employee’s military commitment. Lorenz said the University is committed to providing managers with the tools to support staff who are enlisted in guard and reserve programs, as well as recognize the unique talents these employees bring from their military service. —Ed Hayward
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135. A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
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April 14, 2022
Grant Will Fund Study of Watersheds, Coastlines BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Representatives from Boston College and Mass General Brigham gathered recently to mark the institutions’ partnership. (L-R) Timothy Earle Foster, M.D. (MGB); BC Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry John Butler, S.J.; MGB Vice President of Sports Medicine R. Scott Gassett; Robert Nascimento, M.D. (MGB); BC Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor; Dr. Douglas Comeau, director of University Health Services and Sports Medicine; William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Pat Kraft.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded researchers from the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department a four-year, $6.2 million grant to study water quality and sediment transport in watersheds and along coastlines of the United States, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) ’68, J.D. ’72 announced during a recent visit to campus. The project establishes a collaboration between the University and the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a 220-year-old agency that delivers vital public and military engineering services to strength-
Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, where it will be an integral component of the new Center for Integrated Environmental Systems Research (CIESR), said Baxter and Schiller Institute Director Laura J. Steinberg. According to Baxter, the project will monitor and simulate the evolution of coastlines, rivers, and related habitats in response to natural and human-forced events such as deglaciation, sea-level rise, climate change, nutrient runoff, sediment placement operations, and the construction of dams, levees and other structures. Sedimentological, geophysical, and geochemical analyses will be integrated into numerical models designed to understand the evolution of these systems including coastal erosion, subsidence, and
photo by flavio debarros
BC Athletics to Partner with Mass General Brigham Mass General Brigham will serve as the exclusive health care provider for Boston College Athletics, through a partnership announced on March 31 by Mass General Brigham and Boston College. According to the agreement, Mass General Brigham will provide medical support for Boston College’s men’s and women’s teams in all sports at the varsity and club levels, and its clinicians will also work year-round with BC student-athletes on training, injury prevention, treatment, and game-day medical coverage. The work will be directed by Robert Nascimento, M.D., head team physician and medical director for Boston College, and Tim Foster, M.D., chief of orthopedics and sports medicine at Newton Wellesley Hospital. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Mass General Brigham, and to provide the best possible health care for our student-athletes,” said Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor. “This partnership brings together two respected Boston institutions with long histories of service for the benefit of BC Athletics.” “This partnership between Mass General Brigham and Boston College will benefit BC Athletics across all sports,” said William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Pat Kraft. “We look forward to this
relationship and the positive effect it will have for our student-athletes, coaches and trainers.” Vice President of Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine R. Scott Gassett said the partnership “showcases the diverse clinical portfolio Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine can provide that is truly unmatched. We are proud to partner with Boston College, which is positioned to compete at the highest levels, and to help their student-athletes reach their fullest potential.” Boston College Athletics and Mass General Brigham will also collaborate on disease awareness nights at BC sporting events throughout the year. This season, Mass General Brigham participated in the annual Boston College “Pink Night” game, which honored cancer survivors and provided information and educational resources on cancer screening and overall wellness. In addition to Boston College Athletics, Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine provides clinical services to the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots, and New England Revolution, as well as numerous Division I college programs and high school athletic programs throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. —University Communications
Registration for Diversity & Inclusion Summit Registration is now available for the annual Boston College Diversity & Inclusion Summit on May 25. Each year, the summit brings together BC administrators, faculty, and staff to reflect on and discuss issues related to race and identity at the University. The daylong event typically includes a keynote address, panel discussions, and break-out sessions; past themes have included
“Transformational Dialogue” and “Learn, Reflect, Engage.” This year’s event, “Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging,” features a talk by educator, administrator, and global diversity consultant Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, president and founder of the Washington Consultant Group. To register, and for more details, go to bc.edu/diversity.
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey and University President William P. Leahy, S.J., with members of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department. photo by caitlin cunningham
en national security, support economic growth, and reduce risks from disasters. “The oceans are warming dramatically, and all the evidence points towards catastrophic results,” said Markey during the visit, which coincided with a two-day workshop at BC where University and ERDC project teams presented preliminary research conducted through the partnership. “I’m still very optimistic that we can get something done this year to increase the flow of funding necessary to get the science right. We’ll just keep working to get the funding to make sure that this research continues.” Professor and Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences Ethan Baxter, a lead investigator on the project, said the award reflects expanded expertise and capacity in the department, opportunities created by its new Ph.D. program, as well as its focus on earth systems, particularly the essential role on Earth and in societies of water and its quality. “As a department, we have embraced this intentionally broad theme of water as a department identity for several years now,” said Baxter. “We have been building strength in areas such as geochemistry, computational geophysics and in field analysis. That allowed us to develop this proposal for the Army Corps of Engineers and bring everything together in a multi-year research program.” The project will be affiliated with the
water quality. The team will establish a network of sensors to monitor conditions and water quality in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastlines in study areas that include New England, the Gulf Coast region, and the Seven Mile Island Innovation Laboratory in New Jersey. The research will include compiling field measurements of sediment dynamics and river morphology complemented by high resolution LIDAR aerial imaging and other remote-sensing data to chart the long-term evolution of natural and engineered waterways, said Baxter, joined on the project by his departmental colleagues Noah Snyder, John Ebel, Mark Behn, Gail Kineke, Hilary Palevsky, and Xingchen Wang. “With its responsibilities for managing many of the nation’s riverways and harbors, the Corps deals every day with the challenge of moving sediment from places where it is not desired, such as reservoirs and navigation channels, to where it is needed, such as coastal habitats and infrastructure being lost to sea-level rise,” said Snyder. “Our team is eager to work with agency scientists and engineers to help understand this complex problem.” Baxter said there will be an interplay between data collection in the field and computational modeling of historical data, as well as future scenarios. Read the full story at bit.ly/EES-Corps-collaboration
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April 14, 2022
Law School’s Blum Receives Fulbright Grant BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
E. Joan Blum, an associate professor of the practice at Boston College Law School, was awarded a Fulbright Teaching/Research grant by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to teach academic legal writing and conduct a case study of publication practices at Tashkent State University of Law (TSUL) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, during the 2022-2023 academic year. Blum’s project will support doctoral students and faculty in their efforts to develop legal scholarship for publication in internationally recognized journals. Blum plans to spend the 2023 spring semester at TSUL, a public institution and a leading Uzbek legal research center located in Uzbekistan’s capital. A former Soviet republic in Central Asia, Uzbekistan declared its state sovereignty in 1990 and its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. A member of the BC Law faculty since 1985, Blum served as a visiting professor at TSUL during the 2019 spring semester, conducting faculty development workshops on interactive teaching and academic legal research, as well as a seminar for students on advocacy writing. In December 2019, she led a workshop on interactive teaching methods for the Academy of the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan. A year later, she conducted
a virtual faculty workshop on promoting student engagement in remote learning for the Tashkent-based University of World Economy and Diplomacy, a public institution focused on Uzbekistan’s foreign policy development. “This Fulbright award is an opportunity to strengthen the ongoing connection between BC and TSUL,” said Blum. “I look forward to returning to Tashkent to re-engage in person with TSUL faculty and students, and to bringing back to my BC Law students the insights I gain from my Fulbright experience.” In his invitation to Blum, TSUL Deputy Rector Islambek Rustambekov wrote, “Your many years of academic experience in the field of legal research and writing, your positive reputation at TSUL, and your demonstrated interest in legal education in Uzbekistan will contribute to the success of this project. TSUL will gain a great deal from your primary project as well as from your other activities during your semester-long academic visit.” Writing to congratulate Blum, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Chair Paul Winfree said the grant award was “a reflection of your leadership and contribution to society.” International consultancies and Fulbright support are familiar territory for the Columbia Law School graduate, who specializes in international legal education. Blum made 10 working visits from 2009
E. Joan Blum looks forward to returning to Tashkent State University of Law in Uzbekistan, where she served as a visiting professor in 2019, and “to bringing back to my BC Law students the insights I gain from my Fulbright experience.” photo by bc law school
to 2018 to Bosnia and Herzegovina (a republic of the former Yugoslavia), where she conducted multiple training programs for judges on judicial writing and case-based reasoning. In 2013, she spent several weeks at the University of Sarajevo Faculty of Law leading faculty workshops, lecturing on legal advocacy, and consulting on computer-assisted legal research, all underwritten by the Fulbright Specialist Program, a project-based exchange designed to share expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, and build capacity at the host institutions.
“I am grateful to BC Law School for making possible my work in international legal education, and especially to Professors David Wirth, Judith McMorrow, and Mary Ann Chirba for their generous advice and support in this area over many years,” said Blum. “I would also like to acknowledge Phillip Weiner J.D. ’80, who as an international judge in the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, gave me my first opportunity to teach judges abroad, and Mjusa Sever, founder of the Slovenia-based NGO Regional Dialogue, who introduced me to Uzbekistan.”
Student Affairs VP Describes Inclusivity Plans Continued from page 1
nym AHANA (African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American) does not adequately represent all students of color. “In speaking with students, faculty, and staff, the term AHANA was revolutionary when it was introduced four decades ago, but does not represent the totality of our students of color,” said Cooper-Gibson. “I have spoken with students who identify as Latino/a [not Hispanic] and others who identify as Black [not African American]. We want to recognize the term’s historical significance while ensuring that the nomenclature is fully inclusive. While I know that change can be difficult, renaming the BAIC as the Bowman Intercultural Center is important as we prepare our students to enter a global society with a common language.” In addition, Cooper-Gibson plans to enhance Opening Weekend for first-year students beginning this fall, grouping them by floors and having them share their stories in an effort to celebrate their differences, commonalities, and diverse cultures. She has hired Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, a diversity and inclusion expert, to help students to get to know and appreciate the individuals with whom they will live in their residence halls throughout the year. The conversations will be assisted by student leaders from groups such as FACES,
“New ideas are not always well received, and it can take time to achieve a positive impact, but our intention is to bring people together after a grueling pandemic and provide mentorship, support, photo by lee pellegrini
and love to all of our students.” —Shawna Cooper-Gibson
Allies, and Bowman Advocates, who will help facilitate group discussions. She also intends to launch a program with students called Cura, in which BC students, staff, and faculty will work to create systemic programs for the coming year that will help build relationships and trust among all students. Cooper-Gibson, whose 20-year career in the field of student affairs has focused on enhancing inclusivity and building community, said these changes are aimed at making Boston College the most welcoming place possible. “The BAIC does great work. I want to enhance its outreach and services so that all
students, including students of color and LGBTQ+ students, feel welcomed there,” said Cooper-Gibson. “Sister Thea Bowman’s life was devoted to bringing people together. It is important to make our programs welcoming across cultures.” Similarly, Cooper-Gibson believes that changing the structure of Opening Weekend will make it more inclusive, so that students who do not see themselves as diverse will look at things differently by sharing their stories and listening to the stories of others. “Progress has never been made when we don’t talk to each other,” she said. “I want all students to realize that they are a part of a diverse culture.”
Cooper-Gibson says that given the number of BC students who go on after graduation to become leaders in the private and public sector, it is important that they embrace interculturality so that they can effect change beyond BC. “This is our goal, to incorporate the Magis—the more—for all students by being a more welcoming and inclusive campus. Bringing people together is a central component of our efforts as Jesuit university, and a priority for me as vice president for Student Affairs.” Cooper-Gibson said that she decided to focus on these particular enhancements after discussions with senior administrators, Student Affairs staff, and BC students, and that she will follow an iterative process that will allow her and Student Affairs staff to adjust their efforts accordingly. “We are trying to build systemic change that will allow for a broader impact on the BC student experience,” she said. “New ideas are not always well received, and it can take time to achieve a positive impact, but our intention is to bring people together after a grueling pandemic and provide mentorship, support, and love to all of our students. It is an opportunity to break barriers that separate people and build a closer BC community. I look forward to working with our partners across campus to implement these exciting enhancements.”
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April 14, 2022
Romero’s Legacy Inspires Scholarship Winner BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
Mikayla Sanchez, a Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences junior who hopes to foster her commitment to social justice through a career in the field of law, was awarded the Boston College 2022 Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship. University President William P. Leahy, S.J., presented the award to Sanchez on March 26 at the 30th annual Romero Scholarship ceremony, where she told the audience—which included her parents— “As a second-generation American, I feel the need to persevere and utilize the opportunity so selflessly provided and presented to me by my parents.” The scholarship, which covers a significant portion of senior-year tuition, is given annually to a BC junior who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the Hispanic/ Latinx community and issues both on and off campus. A resident of Berkeley Heights, NJ, Sanchez grew up aware of the poverty and discrimination faced by her mother and father—who emigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic and Colombia, respectively—and other Latinx immigrants, and had a powerful experience as an intern in the Boston U.S. Attorney’s Office. She gained a wider understanding of racism in the justice system endured by Black and Latino families, inspiring her goal to pursue a career in immigration or defense law. “Saint Oscar Romero’s legacy serves as inspiration for me to be a person for others and support my fellow Latinos as we overcome barriers,” she said. “His commitment to justice and empathy particularly resonate with me, and continue to inspire me to enter the legal profession and further the life that my family sacrificed so much for me to live.” A double major in history and sociology with a minor in Managing for Social
Mikayla Sanchez ’23 embraced her parents on being announced the winner of the 2022 Romero Scholarship, then spoke at the podium after being congratulated by University President William P. Leahy, S.J. “As a second-generation American,” she told the audience, “I feel the need to persevere and utilize the opportunity so selflessly provided and presented to me by my parents.” photos by tim correira
Impact and the Public Good, Sanchez is in the top four to five percent of her class. Her activities include involvement in the Jenks Leadership Program, Student Admission Program, and Organization of Latin American Affairs (OLAA). She also is a Bowman Scholar and a member of the Pi Alpha Theta History Honor Society. Sanchez is living in Madrid, Spain, this semester, studying at Carlos III University. [Read a Q&A with Sanchez about her award at https://rb.gy/bxfjol] Romero scholarship finalists were juniors and first-generation students Maribel Andrade and Alberto Juarez. Both have distinguished themselves academically and as servant-scholars, through many activities. They will be awarded scholarships of up to $3,000; along with Sanchez, each will receive a $1,000 gift certificate to the BC Bookstore. Andrade is pursuing a major in biology and a minor in Hispanic studies; her career
goals include medical school and assisting the undocumented and other marginalized communities. An orientation leader, she is a member of the Montserrat Coalition Board, the AHANA Coalition Council, and vice president for STEM & Health Outreach for AHANA. Juarez, who is double majoring in theology and applied psychology and human development, and minoring in Management and Leadership, is dedicated to the service of others and the community. An ESL teaching assistant at East Boston High School and a catechist at Saint Ignatius Church, he is a Bowman Scholar and OLAA community service director. Also at the ceremony, Ronaldo RauceoRicupero J.D. ’07—who credited the lessons learned at Boston College with impacting his commitment to his com-
munity—received the John A. Dinneen, S.J., Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award, which honors alumni whose work reflects Saint Romero’s ideals and Fr. Dinneen’s commitment, leadership, and service to the Latino community. Rauceo-Ricupero practices litigation at Nixon Peabody LLP; from 2013-2019, he was named a Massachusetts SuperLawyers Rising Star, a distinction reserved for two percent of attorneys in the Commonwealth. O. Ernesto Valiente, a School of Theology and Ministry associate professor of systematic theology, delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, which also featured a performance by Latin dance group VIP and remarks from the 2021 Romero Scholar, Morrissey College senior Daniela Vazquez Loriga.
BC Scenes Pinnacle Lecture
PHOTO BY FLAVIO DEBARROS
Undergrad Applications Strong Continued from page 1
ing the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 admission cycles, as did many other highly selective institutions. This has contributed to an increase in the number of students considering an application to highly competitive universities like Boston College. However, given the increase in the percentage of admitted students submitting scores, and the increases in those scores, we have every reason to believe that the degree of academic excellence among our undergraduates will continue to rise. “In the end, BC is getting more ‘best-fit’ students than ever in our applicant pool, who see themselves as aligning with BC expectations and values.” This month, Gosselin and his Office of Undergraduate Admission colleagues are presenting a range of in-person visit opportunities for admitted students, who have
until May 1 to accept enrollment offers. The office hosts Admitted Eagle Days for students admitted via Regular Decision. All admitted students—including those who have already enrolled via Early Decision— are invited to attend in-person programs on select weekdays in April, BC’s class visit program “Eagle for a Day,” as well as a range of virtual program offerings. “Our role is to help counsel students to make an informed decision about enrolling,” said Gosselin. “It’s been challenging the last couple of years: Two years ago, we had to go to an all-virtual format for our events. Last year, we were able to have a limited number of in-person events, which were all outdoors. We’re glad now to be at a point where we can provide the full array of tools and resources for this critical step in a student’s college selection.”
Rear Admiral Aisha K. Mix, chief nurse officer for the United States Public Health Service, presented “Innovative Leadership and the Public Health Nursing Workforce of the Future” on March 29 as part of the Connell School of Nursing Pinnacle Lecture Series.
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April 14, 2022
New Partnerships Broaden Opportunities at Woods Tuition incentive agreements help provide educational options for working adults BY PATRICIA DELANEY SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
The Woods College of Advancing Studies is expanding opportunities for working professionals to continue their education through a number of new strategic partnerships. Tuition incentive agreements for employees of the Boston Public Schools and of MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents the Massachusetts life sciences industry, join existing programs for the University of New England, Dean College, and EdAssist’s more than 200 member companies across the nation. “These initiatives align with our mission to provide affordable, high-quality educational options for working adults who want to advance their education or enhance or change their careers,” said Woods College Dean Karen Muncaster. “They are especially important in light of the many economic pressures people are facing today, and the way in which many are rethinking their work lives.” Most recently, the Woods College’s M.S. in Sports Administration (MSSA) degree program entered into an agreement with the National Junior College Athletic Associa-
Patty Raube Keller, director of the Woods College M.S. in Sports Administration program, which has partnered with the National Junior College Athletic Association. photo by lee pellegrini
tion (NJCAA), the governing organization of community and junior college athletics throughout the United States. The partnership will enable athletics department employees of NJCAA’s 500-plus member schools—as well as NJCAA staff— who meet Boston College admission requirements to receive a 10 percent discount toward the Woods College M.S. in Sports
Administration program, which will offer its full curriculum online beginning in the fall. The MSSA-NJCAA partnership represents a cooperation between two entities that share the goal of developing ethical leaders in education-based athletics. According to MSSA program director Patty Raube Keller, the agreement stemmed from the desire to fill a gap she perceived during her previous experience as a junior college athletic director. “Not everyone who works in college athletics has access to a graduate program,” said Keller, who had worked at every level of the NCAA in compliance and internal operations prior to joining the Woods College last year. “I wanted to offer an online master’s degree to athletic department staff and coaches that valued their commitment to the junior college athletic experience,” she said. “I hope that through this partnership we can help those who previously have not had the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in sports administration.” A Boston College education is held in the highest regard, said NJCAA President and CEO Christopher J. Parker. “The fact that BC is willing to offer a discount to our association members is significant.” An added benefit for students, Keller said, is that Parker is teaching an MSSA course in sports finance. “Dr. Parker brings real-world experience working with a large sports organization’s budget, as well as former experience working in college athletics, where he had to be
very resourceful due to the limited funding that directors at NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and junior college levels have to run their programs,” she said. “I wanted NJCAA students to have access to faculty who had been ‘in their seats’ at one time, so they feel that their MSSA education pertains to them just as much as it does to someone working at BC or at the NCAA or professional level.” Parker joined the Woods MSSA faculty last fall, and cites the opportunity to engage with high-caliber students and share the lessons and experiences of his career as “the reason I love teaching at BC.” The partnership comes on the heels of other recent enhancements to the MSSA program, Keller said, including the development of four new courses. Two focus on revenue generation and opportunities related to name, image, and likeness—the latter a timely addition in light of changes to NCAA policy last year that allow college athletes to benefit from NIL (name-image-likeness) opportunities. The other two explore diversity in sports and on the issues and challenges specific to the student-athlete experience, reflecting the BC MSSA’s holistic approach to sports administration education. The NJCAA agreement will go into effect this fall, in conjunction with the MSSA online launch. Full- and part-time students will be able to pursue the degree online, on campus, or in any combination that meets their needs.
O’Toole Reflects on BC’s Past to Understand Its Present BY JOHN SHAKESPEAR SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
It wound up taking place two years later than expected, but last week University Historian James O’Toole gave his “last lecture” at Boston College. O’Toole, the Clough Millennium Professor of History Emeritus, presented “History and Memory; Histories and Memories” on April 6 in Fulton 511, offering insights from his life as a historian and his forthcoming book, Ever to Excel: A History of Boston College. Co-sponsored by the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society and the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, the Last Lecture series invites longtime faculty members to consider three questions: “If granted the possibility to give a last lecture, what would you say? What wisdom would you impart to the world? What would you want as your legacy?” BC’s series was inspired by Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, who gave a now-famous final lecture as he faced a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2007. O’Toole’s talk—which was rescheduled from April 2020 due to the pandemic— will certainly not be his last, but it offered an opportunity to reflect on his long relationship with Boston College. Following in two older brothers’ footsteps, he first enrolled in 1968 and earned both a B.A. and Ph.D. at BC; beginning in 1998, he taught
in the History Department for more than 20 years. Looking back on his undergraduate years, O’Toole invoked the “key questions” proposed by now-retired Professor of Theology Fr. Michael Himes, who gave BC’s inaugural Last Lecture in 2008. “In addition to our formal education, we regularly solved the world’s problems in late-night sessions,” O’Toole said. “Although we didn’t think of it that way at the time, we were addressing a version of Fr. Himes’s famous questions: What gave us joy? Were we any good at it? Did the world need it?” O’Toole found answers in the study of history, first as an archivist for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Archdiocese of Boston, and later as a professor and author. Drawing on his knowledge of BC’s history, he detailed its transformation from “a small, somewhat insular school” to “a recognizable modern university.” In particular, he highlighted 1970 as a “turning point” when the University, facing financial difficulties, chose a path of growth. “Remarkably enough, the institution decided not simply to hunker down and survive, but to expand and become something better, greater,” O’Toole said. He emphasized three key shifts: residential education, full coeducation, and increasing racial and ethnic diversity on campus. Today, BC is both the same place
University Historian James O’Toole, right, chats with an audience member during his appearance at the Last Lecture series: “If we know our history, if we use our history both to confirm and to correct our memories, we’ll be able to contribute to the ongoing life of this institution about which we all care so much.” photo by justin knight
O’Toole encountered in 1968 and an obviously different one. “The Jesuit founders would be no doubt surprised by the new ways their traditional values are being played out, but I have to think that they would be pleased nonetheless,” he said. As for BC’s future, he preferred to leave that to tomorrow’s historians, but he was
confident of one thing: “If we know our history, if we use our history both to confirm and to correct our memories, we’ll be able to contribute to the ongoing life of this institution about which we all care so much.” John Shakespear is a senior digital content writer in the Office of University Communications
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Forum Seen Promoting Dialogue on Church’s Future BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
A recent two-day conference, co-sponsored by Boston College’s Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, brought some 70 bishops and theologians together for a candid conversation about the future of the United States Catholic Church and the existing opposition to Vatican II and, by extension, Pope Francis’ vision and pontificate. “We would like to start a conversation that’s ongoing, hopefully annually, between bishops and theologians to see if we can help the Church get over the hump of the culture wars that are being played out in the Catholic Church, as well as in the culture at large,” said Mark Massa, S.J., director of the Boisi Center and one of the organizers of the event. “We want to help figure out a way forward. Some bishops will not buy in, but we’ll have enough that there will be a mainstream conversation where we could actually make some progress and not get bogged down in politics.” Held at Loyola University Chicago on March 25 and 26, the conclave hosted four cardinals, four archbishops, and other church leaders, as well as theologians, journalists representing Catholic media, and Catholic philanthropic leaders. To encourage an honest and forthright dialogue, the conference operated under the Chatham House Rule: Participants are free to use information from the discussion, but not allowed to reveal who made any particular comment.
Other sponsors for “Pope Francis, Vatican II, and the Way Forward” were Loyola Chicago’s Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage and Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture. Fr. Massa’s co-organizers were Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage Director Michael P. Murphy and David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture. Also part of the organizing committee was journalist Michael Sean Winters, who first raised the idea of the conference with Fr. Massa last summer. According to Fr. Massa, organizers were intentional about keeping the conference to a manageable size and inviting influential bishops who were seen as centrists and were willing to listen and talk to theologians. “I think bishops have been talking to themselves in an echo chamber, and theologians have been talking to themselves in echo chamber,” said Fr. Massa, a professor in the Theology Department. “Now it’s time to bring everyone together. We don’t want echo chambers. We want real conversations. And that means people will be saying things we don’t completely agree with, and we have to be willing to listen and figure out how we’re going to do that.” Fr. Massa said that while the group as a whole agreed on big topics, such as support for Pope Francis and commitment to synodality, there were varying thoughts on the details. “When the bishops were talking, the theologians asked questions. When the theologians were talking, the bishops asked questions. The conversations were interest-
ing, and when people disagreed, they disagreed respectfully. “Like any group, the bishops are divided,” said Fr. Massa, “but a number did say that it was a better conversation than they normally have when the bishops meet.” A church historian, Fr. Massa said there is precedent in conversations between bishops and theologians. “In the 13th century, it was the commonest thing in the world for bishops to speak to theologians and vice versa. When bishops had questions or the pope had questions, they would send a question to the theological faculty at University of Paris or University of Salamanca. And likewise, theologians would write to bishops and say, ‘What’s your opinion on this?’” The conference featured three keynote addresses and several panel discussions. Villanova University Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Massimo Faggioli, a church historian with expertise on Vatican II, spoke on “Opposition to Francis Rooted in Abandonment of Vatican II as a Source of Renewal.” M. Therese Lysaught, professor at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Care Leadership and the Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University Chicago, gave a talk on “Reclaiming the Moral and Intellectual Tradition from the Culture Wars.” Archbishop Héctor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, O.F.M., president of the Latin American bishops council (CELAM) was called away, so his talk on “The Latino Experience of Synodality” was presented by Archbishop Roberto González of Puerto Rico. Fr. Massa spoke at a panel titled “Dis-
AERA Group Honors Lynch School’s Ludlow Larry Ludlow, chair of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development’s Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) department, is the recipient of the 2022 Benjamin Drake Wright Senior Scholar Award, which recognizes a high-ranking academic whose contributions over a career have had a widespread positive impact on the field of Rasch measurement. This award was established in 2016 by the Rasch Measurement Special Interest Group of the American Education Research Association (AERA) to recognize scholars who have made outstanding and influential contributions to the field of social measurement, and in particular, to Rasch measurement theory. The Rasch model, named for Danish mathematician, statistician, and psychometrician Georg William Rasch, is a psychometric framework for developing and analyzing cognitive performance assessments (i.e., math and science tests) as well as affective scales for measuring psychological constructs such as meaning and purpose in life. “It’s great to see the primary Rasch group recognize Larry’s significant contributions with this lifetime achievement award,” said Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean of the Lynch School. “Rasch methodology is an
Larry Ludlow, winner of the Benjamin Drake Wright Senior Scholar Award. photo by caitlin cunningham
important alternative approach to quantitative social science, and Larry has been applying and advancing this approach for many years.” Ludlow, who retires from Boston College at the end of the semester, will formally receive the award at the next Rasch Special Interest Group business meeting. “Professor Wright invited me to join the doctoral program at the University of Chicago. The four years I spent working with him and colleagues were among the
most intellectually stimulating years of my life,” said Ludlow, the MESA chair since 2001. “The freedom to explore whatever topics I found interesting continues to influence how, as department chair, I try to provide similar experiences for the graduate students in the MESA department. I will always be grateful for the opportunities extended to me by Ben, and I’m honored to receive this award and the recognition behind it.” Since arriving at the Lynch School in 1983, Ludlow has rigorously advanced how faculty teaching evaluations may be longitudinally studied, and helped evolve measurement methodology across numerous disciplines. A former AERA Fellow, Ludlow also received the Patricia B. Elmore Award for Outstanding Research in Measurement and Evaluation from the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling/Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. He is the lead author along with six BC colleagues of a just-published study in the online journal Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation titled “An Enhancement to the Theory and Measurement of Purpose,” which advances the measurement of the critically important goal of post-secondary education. —Phil Gloudemans
torted Receptions of Vatican II.” He used history to illustrate that Vatican II did not create the divisions in the U.S. Catholic Church, noting that in 1784, Catholic priests had drawn up the Whitemarsh Constitutions, which said “the Mass should be in English, people should elect their priests, the priests should elect the bishop, and a lay vestry should own the Church property. But none of this was done.” Conservative French priests fleeing the French Revolution for the U.S. supported the Vatican’s rejection of the Whitemarsh Constitutions, he said. “So already in the early 19th century, you had this division. What Vatican II did was simply float into that chasm and widen the walls of it. Vatican II didn’t create the division. The division had been there a long time, but Vatican II suddenly allowed the lay people to be part of the debate.” Another Boston College participant was School of Theology and Ministry Associate Professor Hosffman Ospino, who took part in a panel on “Pastoral-Theological Ideas for Affective Collegiality with Pope Francis and Receiving Vatican II.” “We have started a conversation that’s quite important, and a couple of bishops have already written to us and said they would like to see the conversation continued,” said Fr. Massa. Read the full story at bit.ly/boisi-center-pope-francis-event
Jobs The following are among the recent positions posted by the Department of Human Resources. For more information on employment opportunities at Boston College, see www.bc.edu/jobs. Help Desk Specialist Technology Consultant Program Director, Ever to Excel Business Systems Analyst Audio & Event Services Specialist Utility Worker Assistant Director, Member Services Research Associate, Connell School of Nursing Instruction & Public Services Librarian Assistant/Associate Director, Leadership Giving Costume Shop Supervisor Campus Minister Strategic Sourcing Officer Assistant Director, Compliance Assistant Director, Biology Labs Construction Project Manager Staff Psychologist or Social Worker Lead Teacher, Pine Manor College Nurse Practitioner Student Services Associate Post-doctoral Research Fellow (multiple positions)
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BC Arts
Arts Festival Touts a ‘New Nostalgia’ Theme BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
With the theme of “New Nostalgia,” the 24th annual Boston College Arts Festival (April 28-30) will bring together University community members to explore tradition and innovation. More than 1,400 University artists will participate in the event, which will feature some 50 events
Jeff Augustin ’08 will receive the BC Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement. photo by joan marcus
and present the expansive talents of BC students, faculty, and alumni in music, theater, dance, creative writing, film, painting, sculpture, and other endeavors. The Arts Festival is open to the public (most events are free); members of all ages from surrounding communities are invited to take part. Festival-goers can take in everything from improv to a cappella performances to showcases of student dance groups; check out an ASL and deaf culture class and an instrument petting zoo; and make their own T-shirts. Days, times, locations and other event information is available at the festival website, bostoncollegeartsfestival.com. “We are thrilled to return to a vibrant live 2022 Arts Festival after two years of social distancing,” said Arts Council Chair and Associate Professor of Theatre Crystal Tiala. Organizers said Arts Festival student leaders developed the festival theme as a means to “bring back” the Arts Festival to its pre-COVID presentation: “‘New Nostalgia’ pays homage to tradition and innovation as we move forward in a new world, while we long for what we knew before. The 2022 Arts Festival shines a spotlight on what we haven’t lost—our drive to create, express, and contribute through the arts. The Boston College community is rich with writers, actors, musicians, artists, and creators of all kinds; we provide the stage and walls and the arts take over.” A festival highlight will be appearances by special guest Jeff Augustin ’08, an acclaimed and award-winning
Haitian-American playwright and screenwriter whose plays have been performed at high-profile festivals and venues across the country. Augustin’s television credits include Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” and Showtime’s “The Good Lord Bird.” Having already amassed many professional awards and accolades, Augustin will receive another: the Boston College Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement. Augustin’s plays include “Where the Mountain Meets the Sea,” “The New Englanders,” “Little Children Dream of God,” “The Last Tiger in Haiti,” and “Cry Old Kingdom.” He has received such honors as the Steinberg Playwriting Award, Rella Lossy Playwright Award, and Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award; his works have been widely commissioned. Among his other television credits are “Claws” (TNT) and the upcoming “Saint X” (Hulu). He has been nominated for two Writer’s Guild of America Awards and has current projects in development with Fox Searchlight/Disney/Barry Jenkins, Netflix, and Element Pictures. Augustin will participate in the careerrelated interview program “Inside the BC Studio” on April 29, at which he will speak with his one-time mentor, Professor of Theatre Scott T. Cummings, who later that day will present him with the Alumni Award. A reception will follow (RSVP required in advance via bostoncollegeartsfestival.com). Entering BC as a political science and economics major, Augustin switched his
Faculty arts honoree Jacqueline Dalley, a Theatre Department faculty member.
major after taking an introductory theater course. At BC “I discovered the theater,” he told BroadwayWorld. “I thought that acting was all there really was to theatre,” until he took playwrighting with Cummings: “A brilliant man, Scott’s the one who really pushed me into writing.” Augustin earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre, followed by an M.F.A. from University of California, San Diego.
Organized by the Arts Council, BC Arts Festival sponsors include the offices of the President and the Provost, the Arts Council committees, Student Affairs, and the Dean’s Office of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, with support from the Alumni Association, the Boston College Police Department, the Boston College Bookstore, and the countless BC Facilities and grounds crew members.
Dance, theater, and other forms of artistic expression from the University community will be on display at the BC Arts Festival. photos by caitlin cunningham
(above and right) and lee pellegrini
Tiala praised Augustin for his writing “about how people heal, cope, and shape our own narratives.” This year’s faculty arts honoree is Jacqueline Dalley, Theatre Department associate professor of the practice and a costume designer and educator who has spent the majority of her 44-year career in educational theater. Dalley joined BC in 1997 as the Theatre Department costume designer and costume shop supervisor. In 2004 she assumed a faculty position and has taught costume design, makeup design, introduc-
tion to design and stagecraft, and fashion history, mentored students, and served as costume designer. She has designed costumes for 88 BC productions, and has done freelance work in major cities across the United States. Student awards will be given to junior Michael Pelosi and seniors Lauren Burd, Xinying Wang, Patrick Beck, Kaylee Drew, and Yifan Wang (who will receive the Jeffery Howe Art History Award). The Boston College Marching Band and Vandy Quartet will receive group awards.